Games Engage on Camera

Dice Roll and Cards Shuffle as Demonstrators Entertain

EeBoo and Education Outdoors put families in the mood to venture outside with assignments of gathering a garden and finding that ever-elusive snipe! Also in the following videos from early 2010 trade shows, Curtlin Toys and Games readies players for battle,Re-marks adorns the classic memory game with irresistible pet pictures, and FamilyTimeFun gathers the family once again — this time for pizza.

The Snipe hunt game can be played with two people, two teams or special * single seeker play, and incorporates both indoor/outdoor activity and good old fashion fun. The object of Snipe is Be the first team/person to find the other team/persons snipe and return it to its nest. After the players have hidden their snipe the other player will try to find it. After a period of time, if the Snipes have not been discovered, they will chirp and then their eyes will light up. Each game comes with two snipes, (named Biela and Smartin) and a Snipe nest. The packaging tells the story behind the legendary campfire animals.

In the board game, sworn enemies Black Xiacons and Red Xiacons must battle each other in order to take the other's bunker while each protecting their own. The game comes with red and black "casino looking" dice and a gameboard that provides the battlefield for play.

The S’mores card game is designed for up to six multi-level players and incorporates both strategy and good old-fashioned fun. The object of the game is to build an edible s’more before your opponents. Players get a higher point value based on the quality of s’more ingredients. The first player to collect all four ingredient cards and call out “S’more!” wins. The S’more card game includes 70, 3" x 5” sturdy playing cards. It is printed with soy-based ink on recycled paper. Launch date: March 2010.

This multi-dimension, multi-player version of the strategy game Pentago accommodates two, three or four players. Two players can play using one or two colors each, and in games with additional participants, players can choose to play as individuals or in teams. Launch date: March 1, 2010.— A top pick, retailer Kate Tanner, owner of Kidstop Toys, informed TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.

In this 2 player interactive RC hunting game, player 1 takes flight control with full function RC Duck while player 2 takes aim at the Duck with safe infrared blaster. The Duck Hunter Xtreme takes 7 minute flights off a single charge and requires 3 direct hits to bring the duck down. Requires 6 AAA batteries for the controller and 3 AA batteries for the blaster.

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The goal of this patent-pending, fast-paced game is for players to swing their ring onto their hook. One to four competitors frantically try to out-duel one another while tuning out the screams to focus on the perfect release. "Hookum is the first collapsible, multi-player Bimini Ring game," Joe Parrish, chief creative officer of 5mississippi, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2009. Watch Hookum: Top-5 Video, Toy Fair 2010

This eco-friendly board game has children compete to create their very own garden. Each player travels around the board visiting different vendors to pick up vegetables, flowers, herbs, and more for their garden. The first to gather all items and head home to tend to their garden wins. Game board folds out to 18x18" and all game pieces are made without plastics. For 2 to 4 players.

The Mystic Treasure Chest the players seek sits on the altar behind the Guardian Ghoul. Players must complete challenges of the ancients to earn the right to try and open the Chest. They must also choose a mystic key carefully, as only one will unlock the chest to reveal the gold coins and any other key will wake up the guardian bringing the sleeping skull to life. The skull?s teeth grind, clatter and bang while his eyes wobble and shrieks a warning at the player who dares try to steal his treasure. For 2 to 4 players.

Turn ABCs into a hilarious and challenging game. Players pick a category card from the deck and think fast to find the words to match — alphabetically. A, B, C might be easy, but the challenge is to see if one can get to X, Y, Z. There are multiple ways to play: individually, head to head, or competing in teams. Players can play in English, French, Spanish or German. Launch date: February 14, 2010.

Now aspiring artists can create their own puzzles. These blank puzzles are made with high-quality board and are sturdy enough for paints. There are 3 additional sizes of Create Your Own Puzzles as well as the option of pencil crayons. The kit comes with 2 puzzles and a set of crayons. Create Your Own Puzzle makes a great gift for any age. Launch date: 2010. From Cobble Hill.— In a Summer 2012 survey, two out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Cobble Hill (dist. by Outset Media) was a best selling brand of puzzles.

For 3 to 6 players, this unique game of literature challenges players to create a convincing first line of a novel to fool other players into thinking it's the real first line of the famous book in question. It was developed by actresses Daryl Hannah and Hilary Shepard. The unique box design has the board built into the box. The game was formerly distributed by SimplyFun.

Name 5 is the new party game that asks the easy questions you know the answers to. Players are asked to name five items within a specific category. Sample questions include: Can you name 5 of the 7 dwarfs? Tom Hanks movies? Pizza toppings? TV Dads? Playable in teams or as individuals. Launch date: 2010.

CATTURA is played with Italian cards — the player to collect the most cards wins The Royals on the board stop the players from collecting cards, and players must fight them off in order to win the game. "The imported Italian cards set this game apart from any other," Kristine Troiano, Owner, Italian Games, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 15, 2010.

Grateful Dead-Opoly was created by music industry veteran and longtime Grateful Dead associate Debbie Gold, and includes artwork by comic book illustrator Timothy Truman. Each game comes with a VIP Pass and tokens that include a guitar, drum, amp, a tour bus and even Bob Weir?s dog, Otis. Players circle the board, attempting to acquire album-themed properties. Along the way, they might catch a show at Winterland, hang in the Parking Lot or even get thrown Off the Bus. Grateful Dead fans will surely appreciate the game's attention to detail. For 2 to 6 players.

Scopa is a centuries old Italian card game of memory, strategy, and skill. Easy to learn, a challenge to master. Included in this set is an authentic set of imported Italian cards, a classic game board, and full instructions on how to play Scopa. Also included is a booklet with instructions on how to play other classic Italian Card Games. The Scopa playingboard features an attractive design with card values printed in each corner for players' reference. The Italian playing cards features 4 suits; and can be used for up to three separate Italian games.

Consensus® Junior Edition is an educational and parent friendly game. It is well suited as a family game. Consensus® Junior Edition is a game about opinions. Consensus® Junior Edition is not a trivia game, nor is it a strategy game. It is a game that allows its participants to express themselves as individuals and/or as part of a group.It has received the following awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Products 2009; Dr. Toy 10 Best Socially Responsible Products 2009; Major Fun Award 2009; Tillywig Laugh Out Loud Award 2009; Creative Child Magazine: Game of the Year 2009; Family Review Center Gold Award 2009; and Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award 2009.— Bernie DeKoven (Major Fun) proclaims that Consensus Junior Edition “is as much a tool for family harmony as it is a game for family fun.” With gameplay similar to Apples to Apples, Consensus Junior Edition challenges players to choose the noun card they feel best fits the revealed adjective card. Players who are able to come to a consensus and choose successfully move ahead. Everyone’s opinion matters, no matter their age, and even kids below the recommended age of 8 can play with a little parental help.— At Toy House and Baby Too in Jackson, Mich., Consensus Junior Edition is a best-selling game, Owner Phil Wrzesinski told TDmonthly in November 2009.

TRIVIATHON... fast-paced trivia for smart AND stupid people! Triviathon will have players singing, dancing, arm wrestling, cheering, cheating, and more as they compete in a game that puts each player's cognitive, physical, and social skills to the test, while they try to win a race moving at speeds of 0, 1, 2, or 3 spaces based on trivia questions they don’t even have to know the answers to. Made in the USA, this game is designed for 2 to 12 players. Triviathon has received the following awards: Creative Child Magazine’s 2009 Game of the Year; PTPA Media 2009; iParenting Media Award 2009; The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval 2009, NAPPA Honors 2009; and Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products 2009.— "A trivia game that you can win without having to know the answers. Now some of us might agree that that is our kind of trivia game. Super fun and fast paced. A great choice for family game night. My own children are going to love this game!!" Jennifer Shuman, of 1SmartNoodle, told TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.

Re-marks presents the classic tile matching game with stylish and playful images in puppy, kitty or travel editions. Includes 48 deluxe tiles to match in competition with other players or alone as a memory strengthening exercise. Launch date: 2010.

For two to four players, Stranded is a fast-paced light strategy game where being last will make one first. Players remove randomly placed game pieces from the platform in hopes of trapping their opponents. But each piece that is removed changes the game surface, creating new moves for some and different strategies for others. Suspense will mount with every move or remove as players try not to fall into their own trap. "Each game played has different moves you can make to either win or set yourself up for losing. The clear box top packaging gives the consumer a perfect look at the colorful playing board. This attractive and intriguing design draws consumers to the product," Todd Jacobs, Vice President, Talicor, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 15, 2010. Awards: 2010 Creative Child Magazine Preferred Game of the Year Award

Kwizniac is a trivia countdown game designed to test your knowledge under pressure. The object of the game is for players to accumulate as many points as possible by correctly answering as many trivia questions as possible. Because Kwizniac consists of only cards and the players’ brain power, it can be played everywhere and at any time. Kwizniac can be played with just two people or a whole group. Watch Kwizniac: Top-5 Video, Toy Fair 2010

A party game where each player is given a card with a unique hand symbol they must watch out for. Everyone starts the beat and if an opponent makes another's symbol instead of the clap in the beat, that person must respond with their symbol and then one of another player. The game teaches rhythm, strengthens observation and encourages social interaction. For four to twelve players. Launch date: 2010.

The fast-moving word game consists of 144 ivory-like letter tiles in a zippered banana pouch. Players place the tiles face down on the table and randomly select 21 tiles. They turn their letters right-side up simultaneously and proceed to form as many intersecting and interconnecting words as possible, rearranging their own letters as many times as desired throughout the game. Awards:TDmonthly Top Seller 2007; 2009 TOTY Game of the YEAR, 2006 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal; 2007 iParenting; 2007 Parents' Choice Recommended; 2007 Dr. Toy Best Products. (Read Review) — This product has been making the TDmonthlyBest-sellers lists since 2007.— As of 05/13/2011 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 456 reviews on Amazon.com.— Eight of 66 retailers vouched for its best-selling status in May 2008; seven of 63 did in Sept. 2008. Shani Watmough of Planet Toys in Rockland, Maine, said her store sells 60 per month. Fifteen of 38 named it a top-selling game in Feb. 2010.— As of April 5, 2010, Bananagrams had spent 570 days in the top-100 best-selling toys and games on Amazon.com.— According to owner Brett Sommer of Figpickels Toy Emporium in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, “It was the 2009 game of the year. The brilliant packaging definitely helps this product."

Writer's Bio: Julie L. Jones has written articles for both newspapers and magazines. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she worked as a communications writer and provided editorial support for a market research company. Read more articles by this author